RATING: 4 STARS
2019; Canelo

Lizzie Hardwick is not a Lady solving crimes in her spare time between tea and balls. Lizzie is a sex worker in 1759, working for one of the Madams, so she has a roof over her head and food in her belly. After one encounter with a John, who was also a traveling merchant, she becomes embroiled in his murder. Lizzie was the last to see the murdered man, and Bow Street Runner, Constable William Davenport while suspicious has no evidence to take her in. Lizzie is not one to let a man help her out of a jam, so she turns to detecting the killer and clear her name.

Going into this novel, I was sure within the first few pages with Lizzie's encounter with a customer. Several pages past that I was hooked. I liked that this mystery was right in the "seedy" parts of town, rather than seeing the wealthy try to navigate the back alleys. Lizzie also is very secretive about her life before the brothel, so there is another personal mystery at play. Davenport is also a mystery. This with the chemistry of Lizzie and Davenport made me really enjoy this novel. I am glad this will be a series to see where each character goes and if they have any romantic sparks. This is a well researched and written novel. You can tell that there is a passion for the era that comes through with the writing. If you like C.S. Harris and Rhys Bowen, this might be your next read!

***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***

An exciting historical mystery with an appealing and unique heroine. I've read a number of mysteries with protagonists who used to be prostitutes, but who have moved on to be madames or courtesans or respectable working women. But Lizzie Hardwicke in Death and the Harlot is still active in that trade and the glimpses into the life of an 18th century prostitute in a respectable brothel were very interesting indeed. I understand why the author opted to keep the dialogue modern rather than attempting to have her characters speak in a more period-appropriate fashion. I'm sure this was supposed to make the story more accessible to non-history buffs, and perhaps it did. However, it made the book much less evocative of time and place than it should have been and, for me, less enjoyable. That said, I did like the book a great deal and am certainly looking forward to subsequent installations.

Death and the Harlot is a murder mystery set in London in 1759. Lizzie Hardwicke works as a prostitute at Mrs Farley’s and after one of their parties a client is found murdered in the yard of the local ale house, and with Lizzie being the last to see him she finds herself top of the suspect list. In order to prove her innocence Lizzie decides to go and find the murderer herself. With the help Constable William Davenport, Lizzie finds herself probing into the detail of Reed’s life, and following a path of blackmail to find the real killer.

I loved reading this book, the characters and story hooks from the first page and reeled me in through out the book until the final shocking conclusion. Lizzie Hardwicke is a wonderful character and the phrase ‘a tart with a heart’ was made for her. Like many women of that period Lizzie comes from a middle class family, she has been educated but unfortunately found herself homeless until one of Mrs Farley’s girls spots her and they take her in. Being in an establishment like Mrs Farley’s mean that she is warm, fed and protected from clients rather than be living on the street and being in danger. It is a higher class establishment, but as the murder investigation proves, their clients may have many secrets and are not all they seem. Her humanity and caring side comes out when she helps two very different young girls who find themselves in trouble; Sallie is a prostitute on the street, who is down on her luck and Amelia who finds herself at Mrs Farley’s without knowledge of what they do there. Lizzie uses her own money to help both girls outing try to keep them safe.

Georgina Clarke really captures the sights, sounds and smells of London as well as the social and political scene. London was a busy and bustling city, with many different people from many different walks of life. Unfortunately, being the eighteenth century the sanitary conditions were not always that great in some parts so the streets flowed with human waste, rotting food and rats and this is all brought to life from the page. The murder mystery has as many twists and turns as the alleyways of London, moving from the gaming houses, to the banks of the Thames, the ale houses and to the countryside of Norfolk. The tension builds throughout with several red herrings, and a showdown at the end that sees Lizzie put her life in danger.

Death and the Harlot is a dark and thrilling murder mystery with secrets, lies, blackmail and duplicity. What really makes this book and excellent read is the character of Lizzie Hardwicke; she is intelligent, quick witted, compassionate and likeable to all she meets. Full of wonderful character sand brilliant descriptions that give this book an authenticity this is real page turner and I can’t wait for the next book in the series and catch up with the dynamic and delightful Lizzie Hardwicke.

A historical crime mystery set in Victorian London in 1759.

Lizzie Hardwicke is a prostitute living in a bawdy house and that leads to meeting many unsavory visitors. She is a strong protagonist and is determined to make the most of her situation. She also has a heart of gold and that made her incredibly endearing.

When a wealthy customer is found murdered and Lizzie was the last to be seen with him, she is determined to become an amateur detective. She soon starts uncovering lies and secrets that could clear her name.

The murder mystery has many interesting twists and kept me on my toes for more clues. The pace is of the book is steady and I never skimmed the pages. The cast of characters were all entertaining and had their own back stories that added interest.

I would recommend to historical crime fans who enjoy unique settings and a well paced mystery. I'm looking forward to the next in this series! Lizzie is a fabulous character.

Gripping, engaging, a new blow in historical crime dramas.
Georgina Clarke gets the readers involve so well into the story that you are able to walk along smelly London streets with Lizzie Hardwicke dodging begging children for a slice of bread or dishonest propositions from lusting men.
With Lizzie Hardwicke is born a new heroine. She is brave, smart, witty and kind in a heartless time. In addition, her condition of harlot gives Lizzie the opportunity to move through as sordid as well refined backgrounds.
I like so much the relation between William Davenport and Lizzie,the constable and the prostitute. They represents two opposite worlds that take aside their differences to help each other in this case. It’s like a forbidden friendship, indeed, an exciting relationship.
The well-written story is so fluently that catches you from the first page and there are many unexpected twists that keep you reading until the last page.
I enjoyed every page so much, that now I can only wait for the second book of Lizzie Hardwicke’s adventures.

Death and the Harlot was an interesting, absorbing story with strong, captivating protagonists. It was a nice change-of-pace break from serious life stories, one I thoroughly enjoyed. Georgina Clarke writes a fine tale. I hope this is just the first chapter of Lizzie's story. Georgina Clarke is an author I will follow.

Lizzie Hardwicke is a working girl in 1759 London. Her 'house' is in Soho, run by middle-aged madam Mrs. Sarah Farley and while not at the top of the quality houses of prostitution in London at that time, Mrs. Farley's place is clean and well-run and the girls are treated well. Fed, housed, protected, and free to wander in the daylight hours, Lizzie knows she could be a lot worse off.

When Mrs. Farley finds a young teen wandering and frightened, in despair after her father threw her out for refusing to marry a man twice her age who would help the family establish themselves in society, the solution as Lizzie sees it is to hide her in the attic until they find an alternative lifestyle solution for Amelia. Amelia, who is in love with Tommy, a blacksmith's helper, so they must find Tommy a job. Mrs. Farley doesn't necessarily agree, but she gives Amelia and Lizzie a few days grace before she starts charging 'rent' for a room. Lizzie is determined to steer Amelia onto a different life course, as her own tale was so similarly mapped out.

And then the body's begin to pile up. Lizzie's the prime suspect in the first death, one of her latest customers, so she does all that she can to find the real culprit for police runner William Davenport before she is charged with murder and hung. Lizzie will encounter more death, blackmail, and the 'dirty' side of 1750's London before the solution falls into place.

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Georgina Clarke, and Canelo publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this book of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.

A tremendously gripping historical crime novel that sheds a light on the dark underbelly of 18th Century London, Death and the Harlot is an exceptional debut featuring Lizzie Hardwicke devotees of the genre are simply going to lap up.

London in 1759 was shrouded in danger, fear and jeopardy. Beneath the wealth and glamour of the capital lay hidden a dark world of greed, corruption, deception and murder. With highwaymen running rampant all over town, criminals staking their claim all over the city and prostitutes plying their trade all over London, the busy streets are a playground for the debauched, the discordant and the most dangerous members of society. Being a woman earning her living as a prostitute in Soho is certainly not easy, but Lizzie Hardwicke is a survivor. Resourceful and spirited, Lizzie is protected somewhat by being one of Mrs Farley’s girls. However, when one of her wealthy clients is murdered and Lizzie realizes that she was the last person alive to have seen him alive, she realizes that she is going to need all of her wits to get herself out of this mess! Can she find the killer and clear her name? Or is Lizzie destined for the gallows?

Constable William Davenport is determined to find the criminal roaming the streets of London. The finger of suspicion points at Lizzie Hardwicke, but was she really the one responsible? Is Lizzie Hardwicke a killer? Or is there something far more sinister and dangerous afoot? William vows to find out, however, he has to contend with Lizzie turning detective and constantly hampering his investigation!

Lizzie will not rest until she has found the killer responsible, but that proves to be easier said than done! Lizzie might have vowed to uncover the murderer whatever the cost, but as the body count keeps rising, will she manage to solve this most baffling puzzle? Or will those responsible do anything to keep their secrets dead and buried at all cost – even if Lizzie has to pay the ultimate prize!

I raced through Death and The Harlot! A fiendishly clever mystery that is wonderfully plotted, hugely suspenseful and brilliantly evocative, Death and The Harlot is an engrossing and involving tale of secrets, lies and deception that will keep readers on tenterhooks and gleefully turning the pages all through the night!

Lizzie Hardwicke is a wonderful heroine. She is a smart and intelligent sleuth readers will cheer for and delight in as she takes on the seemingly impossible task of solving a murder.

A fantastic historical crime novel that I could not put down, Death and The Harlot is a compulsively readable tale I highly recommend!

Georgian London 1759, Miss Lizzie Hardwicke is a working girl, a prostitute, working for Madame Farley who employs girls to entertain the menfolk of London. After an evening with wealthy businessman George Reed, a cloth merchant from Norwich, Lizzie is eager to get rid of him so invites him to the masked ball the brothel is holding the next day as long as he leaves immediately.

Whilst at the ball George comes across a young woman who is staying at the brothel after being kicked out by her father for loving the ‘wrong’ boy. She is not a working girl, but this doesn’t stop George trying his luck. After creating a scene George is thrown out of the brothel and the next day is found murdered at the back of the local tavern, garroted by his own handkerchief. His purse and pocket watch are missing, along with some papers he was carrying.

Constable William Davenport is sent to investigate the murder and soon turns his attention to Lizzie who was one of the last people to see him alive. To help clear her name Lizzie tells the constable that she will find the killer as no-one will suspect her of looking for the killer and she can see and hear things he wouldn’t. The constable agrees and the two begin working together.

I have a love/hate relationship with historical fiction so I wasn’t sure what I would make of Death and the Harlot as the Georgian era isn’t a period I remember reading about before. However, told in the first person from Lizzie Hardwicke perspective the book was most enjoyable, especially as Lizzie’s voice comes across strong. She is also a well-educated woman for her age and profession.

The plot has many layers to it as not only do we have the working girls of London and the murder of George Reed we also have a group of highwaymen that are in the area after their leader John Swann was captured, who are causing mayhem. As more information about George’s murder comes to light most of the characters we had met early on in the book become suspects. The mystery unfolded nicely with the pieces falling into place as the story progresses.

Georgina Clarke has written a fantastic debut novel that not only kept me wondering throughout who the killer could be and how all the pieces slotted together but it kept me entertained from the beginning until the very end. I am pleased to learn that this is the first in a planned series as I can’t wait to meet Lizzie again.

This is a book that will appeal to those who love a good murder mystery as well as those that love historical fiction too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this book. I found this book very good indeed. There is an educated girl down on her luck and working in the oldest profession for all women in this vein. The difference is she has built up a good relationship with all those she comes across and when a murder occurs she is well placed to side the police and with a quick sit and mind does become a force to be reckoned with. I found myself hoping that this would become the first in a series involving the characters as I am sure there are more relationship developments that can be built upon as well as more murders to be solved.

Murder mystery in the eighteenth-century with a likeable female detective and a well-researched setting.

Atmospheric and authentic ‘Death and the Harlot’, features Lizzie Hardwicke, a harlot who becomes embroiled in a murder hunt, and turns detective. Despite her tragic family history, she remains humorous and kind, using her intelligence and knowledge of people, and the area, to help solve a complex crime.

The plot is full of suspects and twists, the tone is pitched correctly for the time period. William Davenport, a Bow Street Runner is determined to find the culprit and discover more about Lizzie’s past life. He has many secrets too, and the relationship between them is interesting and promises to be an integral part of future stories.

This is lighthearted despite the gravity of the crime, the characters are complex and fit with the time period, although the tale is written in a contemporary style. A clever, entertaining story, I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Lizzie Hardwicke job is not one of the most respected; she is a “whore”, yes after a turbulence past, she decided that it was much more worthier to be paid for her choice than simply being used. Saying this, you will see that Lizzie is a strong woman that doesn’t want to be used but that takes care of her loved ones and fights for them till the end.
When one of Lizzie’s client appears dead near her “work house” she will try to discover the truth before the murder affects her reputation. Lucky for her, the main detective of the case doesn’t think that she is guilty and they will work together to discover the truth.
This had been a very interesting case, because even if the victim didn’t have my likeness from the beginning, after discovering the truth, one can’t doubt that he has been murdered. Let’s say that there’s a long cue of possible killers…
If you are searching for a detectiveness story with an intelligent character and some curious friends this one is for you! The story finish with an interesting twist, so I can’t wait to read the next adventure!

Death and the Harlot is the historical crime debut novel from Georgina Clarke.

Set in London 1759, wealthy Norwich cloth merchant George Reed visits Lizzie Hardwicke, a prostitute at Mrs Farley’s brothel. To keep him sweet and to earn extra coin, Lizzie invites him to a masked ball…

But after Tommy shows up and a bit of a todo, Reed is thrown out……

His body is then found murdered, robbed and left among the rubbish.

Constable William Davenport suspects Lizzie is responsible….but she decides to find the murderer herself !!!!

This unlikely pair begin to work together as Lizzie will be able to get people to talk, where Constable Davenport can’t….

There are many secrets and lies in this wonderfully, risqué, rollicking historical crime thriller….from whores to highwaymen…..thoroughly entertaining.

Thank you to Canelo, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook and this is my honest, unbiased review.

This is a brilliant atmospheric crime story ,set in London 1759,the descriptions are so good I felt I was there !!!.Lizzie Hardwicke ,a young prostitute becomes the prime suspect when one of her one of her "gentlemen"is found murdered ..Lizzie is a very interesting character with a back story and I enjoyed learning how life was in this era .This is a very well written and researched book and I do hope there will be more books about Lizzie Hardwicke .Many thanks to The Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review .

This was an engrossing story, it was written in a lively and entertaining way. The main character of Lizzie Hardwicke was very engaging. She was an intelligent woman who was in her situation through no real fault of her own. I enjoyed the way she went about discovering the identity of the murderer. Her interaction with Will Davenport, had me wondering if anything might develop between them. There were a number of interesting characters, many with their own secrets. I do hope there will be more stories featuring the main characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fun and enjoyable read. A handful of typos did not overly detract. It's impossible to dislike the heroine. Despite her traumatic backstory, she's still strong, spunky, funny, and kind (veritable prostitute with a heart of gold), though also crude and blunt. The seamy underbelly of London is pretty vividly described, and I enjoyed meeting the cast of characters. I also enjoyed the historical note at the end. My biggest issue with the book was that I thought there was a fair amount of fat-shaming. Every time the author described an overweight person, she was really quite denigratory (describing the characters as disgusting, fat pig, etc, overly dwelling on their size when it didn't seem to have any bearing on anything else besides how gross she finds them). I also thought the mystery itself was too obvious but it was still enjoyable figuring out the details of how it all came together. Apart from those things, I very much enjoyed this read. My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Death And The Harlot is a hugely entertaining, atmospheric and gripping book that I thoroughly enjoyed!

The author does a great job of bringing the eighteenth century to life with all its seediness, rough justice and fear so that the reader feels like they are really there watching everything unfold. Its interesting to read about how people had to live in that era and what counted as justice which seemed to be quite skewed against the poor.

I absolutely loved the main character Lizzie. She’s rude, crude and some of her observations are utterly hilarious! The reader is given access to her inner most thoughts which allows us to understand her more. This also leads to some of the funniest parts in the book as you are able to learn what she really thinks. I warmed to her instantly and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to her.

The actual murder mystery is very interesting and takes the reader on a journey through eighteenth century London. Through this the reader learns more about what life was like at that time as the investigation takes Lizzie to some interesting places! There were lots of false leads which kept me on my toes and made it hard for me to guess who the murderer was which always adds to my enjoyment of the book.

This is the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to read more from her. I hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of Lizzie as I thought she was a fantastic character. This book reminded me a little bit of Crimson And The White not just because it’s about prostitutes but also because of the strong, funny main female character and the easy flow of the book. If you liked that book I think you’ll also enjoy this one.

Huge thanks to Ellie from Canelo publishing for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

This was an excellent mystery novel that definitely made me stop and think, with some red herrings thrown in along the way. Absolutely loved it!

1759 and in Soho, London Lizzie Hardwicke at the age of 19 has been forced to work as a prostitute in the house of Mrs Sarah Farley. Until one evenng a former client is found dead and Lizzie becomes a suspect. To stop the suspicion, she hopes, she suggests she can help, as her resources would be wider and more likely to talk to her than to the Bow Street Runners.
I enjoyed this well-written mystery, and liked the characters on the whole. I hope that future books will have more of the participation of the Runners in the story. A very good solid start to what I hope is a new series.

My thanks to Canelo for an eARC via NetGalley of Georgina Clarke’s debut novel ‘Death and the Harlot’ in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the London of 1759, Lizzie Hardwicke makes her living as a prostitute in a bawdy house run my Ma Farley. The house provides some protection from the dangers of the street. When one of Lizzie’s wealthy clients is found murdered it brings her to the attention of Constable William Davenport of the Bow Street Runners.

Lizzie is concerned that her closeness to the murdered man could make her a suspect, and so she turns amateur detective. However, the body count continues to rise and secrets, including hers, threaten to come to light.

This novel proved a very entertaining, fast-paced historical crime thriller and hopefully the start of a new series. While born a gentlewoman, Lizzie is very pragmatic about her situation and career.

Georgina Clarke has done a great job in establishing her protagonist and supporting characters as well expertly depicting the grimy streets of eighteenth-century London.

There is a cameo by John Fielding, who headed the constables known popularly as The Bow Street Runners. (This brought to mind the tv series, ‘City of Vice’ that featured the Fielding brothers.)

Clarke mentions in her Historical Note that this nickname didn’t come into use until the 1770s and admits that her use of it in 1759 is an anachronism. She also comments on and provides disclaimers for other liberties that she has taken. I always appreciate it when an author of historical fiction takes the time to acknowledge such.

She also lists some of the books that she used for research for those readers interested in learning more about London and Britain in the eighteenth century.

So a very impressive debut that is one that I highly recommend. More Lizzie soon please.

A really gripping read which hopefully is the first in a series.
Lizzie Hardwick is a prostitute in 18th century London. One of her clients has been found murdered and she it is presumed was the last person to see him alive.
Worried that she could be seen as the murderer Lizzie sets out to find out who actually committed the crime.
This leads her to working with the Bow Street Runners.
Easy to read a great debut novel and look forward to seeing more from this author.